Efficient detection of human machine interface interaction using a resonant phase sensing system

ABSTRACT

A system may include a tactile actuator for providing tactile feedback and a resonant phase sensing system. The resonant phase sensing system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and the tactile actuator. The resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor may be configured to measure phase information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, based on the phase information, detect an indication of human interaction with the system proximate to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, and trigger the tactile actuator to generate tactile feedback responsive to detecting the indication of human interaction.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/739,970, filed Oct. 2, 2018, U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/649,857, filed Mar. 29, 2018, U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/721,134, filed Aug. 22, 2018,and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/740,107, filed Oct.2, 2018, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates in general to electronic devices withuser interfaces (e.g., mobile devices, game controllers, instrumentpanels, etc.), and more particularly, an integrated haptic system foruse in a system for mechanical button replacement in a mobile device,for use in haptic feedback for inductive and capacitive sensors, and/orother suitable applications.

BACKGROUND

Linear resonant actuators (LRAs) and other vibrational actuators (e.g.,rotational actuators, vibrating motors, etc.) are increasingly beingused in mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones, personal digitalassistants, video game controllers, etc.) to generate vibrationalfeedback for user interaction with such devices. Typically, aforce/pressure sensor detects user interaction with the device (e.g., afinger press on a virtual button of the device) and in response thereto,the linear resonant actuator vibrates to provide feedback to the user.For example, a linear resonant actuator may vibrate in response to forceto mimic to the user the feel of a mechanical button click.

One disadvantage of existing haptic systems is that existing approachesto processing of signals of a force sensor and generating of a hapticresponse thereto often have longer than desired latency, such that thehaptic response may be significantly delayed from the user's interactionwith the force sensor. Thus, in applications in which a haptic system isused for mechanical button replacement, inductive or capacitive sensorfeedback, or other application, and the haptic response may noteffectively mimic the feel of a mechanical button click. Accordingly,systems and methods that minimize latency between a user's interactionwith a force sensor and a haptic response to the interaction aredesired.

In addition, to create appropriate and pleasant haptic feelings for auser, a signal driving a linear resonant actuator may need to becarefully designed and generated. In mechanical button replacementapplication, a desirable haptic response may be one in which thevibrational impulse generated by the linear resonant actuator should bestrong enough to give a user prominent notification as a response tohis/her finger pressing and/or releasing, and the vibrational impulseshould be short, fast, and clean from resonance tails to provide a usera “sharp” and “crisp” feeling. Optionally, different control algorithmsand stimulus may be applied to a linear resonant actuator, to alter theperformance to provide alternate tactile feedback—possibly denotingcertain user modes in the device—giving more “soft” tactile responses.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, thedisadvantages and problems associated with sensing of human-machineinterface interactions in a mobile device may be reduced or eliminated.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system mayinclude a tactile actuator for providing tactile feedback and a resonantphase sensing system. The resonant phase sensing system may include aresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and a measurement circuitcommunicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor andthe tactile actuator. The resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor may beconfigured to measure phase information associated with theresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, based on the phase information,detect an indication of human interaction with the system proximate tothe resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, and trigger the tactileactuator to generate tactile feedback responsive to detecting theindication of human interaction.

In accordance with these and other embodiments of the presentdisclosure, a method may include measuring phase information associateda resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, detecting an indication ofhuman interaction with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor basedon the phase information, and triggering a tactile actuator to generatetactile feedback responsive to detecting the indication of humaninteraction.

Technical advantages of the present disclosure may be readily apparentto one having ordinary skill in the art from the figures, descriptionand claims included herein. The objects and advantages of theembodiments will be realized and achieved at least by the elements,features, and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are examples and explanatory and arenot restrictive of the claims set forth in this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantagesthereof may be acquired by referring to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumbers indicate like features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of selected components of an examplemobile device, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a mechanical member separated by a distance from aninductive coil, in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates selected components of an inductive sensing systemthat may be implemented by a resonant phase sensing system, inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of selected components of an exampleresonant phase sensing system and an example haptic system, inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of selected components of an examplemobile device 102, in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, mobile device 102 may comprise anenclosure 101, a controller 103, a memory 104, a mechanical member 105,a microphone 106, a linear resonant actuator 107, a radiotransmitter/receiver 108, a speaker 110, a haptic system 112, and aresonant phase sensing system 113.

Enclosure 101 may comprise any suitable housing, casing, or otherenclosure for housing the various components of mobile device 102.Enclosure 101 may be constructed from plastic, metal, and/or any othersuitable materials. In addition, enclosure 101 may be adapted (e.g.,sized and shaped) such that mobile device 102 is readily transported ona person of a user of mobile device 102. Accordingly, mobile device 102may include but is not limited to a smart phone, a tablet computingdevice, a handheld computing device, a personal digital assistant, anotebook computer, a video game controller, or any other device that maybe readily transported on a person of a user of mobile device 102.

Controller 103 may be housed within enclosure 101 and may include anysystem, device, or apparatus configured to interpret and/or executeprogram instructions and/or process data, and may include, withoutlimitation a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor(DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any otherdigital or analog circuitry configured to interpret and/or executeprogram instructions and/or process data. In some embodiments,controller 103 interprets and/or executes program instructions and/orprocesses data stored in memory 104 and/or other computer-readable mediaaccessible to controller 103.

Memory 104 may be housed within enclosure 101, may be communicativelycoupled to controller 103, and may include any system, device, orapparatus configured to retain program instructions and/or data for aperiod of time (e.g., computer-readable media). Memory 104 may includerandom access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EEPROM), a Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation (PCMCIA) card, flash memory, magnetic storage, opto-magneticstorage, or any suitable selection and/or array of volatile ornon-volatile memory that retains data after power to mobile device 102is turned off.

Microphone 106 may be housed at least partially within enclosure 101,may be communicatively coupled to controller 103, and may comprise anysystem, device, or apparatus configured to convert sound incident atmicrophone 106 to an electrical signal that may be processed bycontroller 103, wherein such sound is converted to an electrical signalusing a diaphragm or membrane having an electrical capacitance thatvaries as based on sonic vibrations received at the diaphragm ormembrane. Microphone 106 may include an electrostatic microphone, acondenser microphone, an electret microphone, a microelectromechanicalsystems (MEMs) microphone, or any other suitable capacitive microphone.

Radio transmitter/receiver 108 may be housed within enclosure 101, maybe communicatively coupled to controller 103, and may include anysystem, device, or apparatus configured to, with the aid of an antenna,generate and transmit radio-frequency signals as well as receiveradio-frequency signals and convert the information carried by suchreceived signals into a form usable by controller 103. Radiotransmitter/receiver 108 may be configured to transmit and/or receivevarious types of radio-frequency signals, including without limitation,cellular communications (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE, etc.), short-rangewireless communications (e.g., BLUETOOTH), commercial radio signals,television signals, satellite radio signals (e.g., GPS), WirelessFidelity, etc.

A speaker 110 may be housed at least partially within enclosure 101 ormay be external to enclosure 101, may be communicatively coupled tocontroller 103, and may comprise any system, device, or apparatusconfigured to produce sound in response to electrical audio signalinput. In some embodiments, a speaker may comprise a dynamicloudspeaker, which employs a lightweight diaphragm mechanically coupledto a rigid frame via a flexible suspension that constrains a coil tomove axially through a cylindrical magnetic gap. When an electricalsignal is applied to the coil, a magnetic field is created by theelectric current in the coil, making it a variable electromagnet. Thecoil and the driver's magnetic system interact, generating a mechanicalforce that causes the coil (and thus, the attached cone) to move backand forth, thereby reproducing sound under the control of the appliedelectrical signal coming from the amplifier.

Mechanical member 105 may be housed within or upon enclosure 101, andmay include any suitable system, device, or apparatus configured suchthat all or a portion of mechanical member 105 displaces in positionresponsive to a force, a pressure, or a touch applied upon orproximately to mechanical member 105. In some embodiments, mechanicalmember 105 may be designed to appear as a mechanical button on theexterior of enclosure 101.

Linear resonant actuator 107 may be housed within enclosure 101, and mayinclude any suitable system, device, or apparatus for producing anoscillating mechanical force across a single axis. For example, in someembodiments, linear resonant actuator 107 may rely on an alternatingcurrent or voltage to drive a coil pressed against a moving massconnected to a spring. When the coil is driven at the resonant frequencyof the spring, linear resonant actuator 107 may vibrate with aperceptible force. Thus, linear resonant actuator 107 may be useful inhaptic applications within a specific frequency range. While, for thepurposes of clarity and exposition, this disclosure is described inrelation to the use of linear resonant actuator 107, it is understoodthat any other type or types of vibrational actuators (e.g., eccentricrotating mass actuators) may be used in lieu of or in addition to linearresonant actuator 107. In addition, it is also understood that actuatorsarranged to produce an oscillating mechanical force across multiple axesmay be used in lieu of or in addition to linear resonant actuator 107,as well as the use of multiple actuators to render a haptic effect. Asdescribed elsewhere in this disclosure, a linear resonant actuator 107,based on a signal received from haptic system 112, may render hapticfeedback to a user of mobile device 102 for at least one of mechanicalbutton replacement and capacitive or inductive sensor feedback.

Together, mechanical member 105 and linear resonant actuator 107, alongwith suitable control functions of controller 103, memory 104, hapticsystem 112, and/or resonant phase sensing system 113, may form ahuman-interface device, such as a virtual button, which, to a user ofmobile device 102, has a look and feel of a mechanical button of mobiledevice 102.

Haptic system 112 may be housed within enclosure 101, may becommunicatively coupled to resonant phase sensing system 113, linearresonant actuator 107, and controller 103, and may include any system,device, or apparatus configured to receive a signal from resonant phasesensing system 113 or controller 103 indicative of a human interactionwith a human-machine interface implemented by mechanical member 105 andlinear resonant actuator 107 and generate an electronic signal fordriving linear resonant actuator 107 in response to the indication ofthe human interaction. Detail of an example integrated haptic system 112in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted inFIG. 4.

Resonant phase sensing system 113 may be housed within enclosure 101,may be communicatively coupled to mechanical member 105 and may includeany system, device, or apparatus configured to detect a displacement ofmechanical member 105 indicative of a physical interaction (e.g., by auser of mobile device 102) with the human-machine interface of mobiledevice 102 (e.g., a force applied by a human finger to a virtual buttonof mobile device 102). As described in greater detail below, resonantphase sensing system 113 may detect displacement of mechanical member105 by performing resonant phase sensing of aresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor for which an impedance (e.g.,inductance, capacitance, and/or resistance) of theresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor changes in response todisplacement of mechanical member 105. Thus, mechanical member 105 maycomprise any suitable system, device, or apparatus which all or aportion thereof may displace, and such displacement may cause a changein an impedance of a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor integral toresonant phase sense system 113. Resonant phase sensing system 113 mayalso generate an electronic signal for driving linear resonant actuator107 in response to a physical interaction associated with ahuman-machine interface associated with mechanical member 105. Detail ofan example resonant phase sensing system 113 in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure is depicted in greater detailbelow. In addition, resonant phase sensing system 113 may be similar oridentical in many respects to the resonant phase sensing systemsdisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/294,349, entitled“Resonant Phase Sensing of Resistive-Inductive-Capacitive Sensors” andfiled on Feb. 4, 2019 (the “Reference Application”), which isincorporated herein by reference.

Although specific example components are depicted above in FIG. 1 asbeing integral to mobile device 102 (e.g., controller 103, memory 104,mechanical member 105, microphone 106, radio transmitter/receiver 108,speakers(s) 110, linear resonant actuator 107, etc.), a mobile device102 in accordance with this disclosure may comprise one or morecomponents not specifically enumerated above. For example, although FIG.1 depicts certain user interface components, mobile device 102 mayinclude one or more other user interface components in addition to thosedepicted in FIG. 1, including but not limited to a keypad, a touchscreen, and a display, thus allowing a user to interact with and/orotherwise manipulate mobile device 102 and its associated components. Inaddition, although FIG. 1 depicts only a single virtual buttoncomprising mechanical member 105 and linear resonant actuator 107 forpurposes of clarity and exposition, in some embodiments a mobile device102 may have multiple virtual buttons each comprising a respectivemechanical member 105 and linear resonant actuator 107.

FIG. 2 illustrates mechanical member 105 embodied as a metal plateseparated by a distance d from an inductive coil 202, in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates selectedcomponents of an inductive sensing system 300 that may be implemented byresonant phase sensing system 113, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, inductive sensing system 300 mayinclude mechanical member 105, modeled as a variable electricalresistance 304 and a variable electrical inductance 306, and may includeinductive coil 202 in physical proximity to mechanical member such thatinductive coil 202 has a mutual inductance with mechanical member 105defined by a variable coupling coefficient k. As shown in FIG. 3,inductive coil 202 may be modeled as a variable electrical inductance308 and a variable electrical resistance 310.

In operation, as a current I flows through inductive coil 202, suchcurrent may induce a magnetic field which in turn may induce an eddycurrent inside mechanical member 105. When a force is applied to and/orremoved from mechanical member 105, which alters distance d betweenmechanical member 105 and inductive coil 202, the coupling coefficientk, variable electrical resistance 304, and/or variable electricalinductance 306 may also change in response to the change in distance.These changes in the various electrical parameters may, in turn, modifyan effective impedance Z_(L) of inductive coil 202.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of selected components of an exampleresonant phase sensing system 113, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent disclosure. In some embodiments, resonant phase sensing system113 may be used to implement resonant phase sensing system 113 ofFIG. 1. As shown FIG. 4, resonant phase sensing system 113 may include aresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402 and a processing integratedcircuit (IC) 412.

As shown in FIG. 4, resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402 mayinclude sense inductor 302 (from FIG. 3), a resistor 404, and capacitor406. Although shown in FIG. 4 to be arranged in parallel with oneanother, it is understood that sense inductor 302, resistor 404, andcapacitor 406 may be arranged in any other suitable manner that allowsresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402 to act as a resonant tank. Forexample, in some embodiments, sense inductor 302, resistor 404, andcapacitor 406 may be arranged in series with one another. In someembodiments, resistor 404 may not be implemented with a stand-aloneresistor, but may instead be implemented by a parasitic resistance ofsense inductor 302, a parasitic resistance of capacitor 406, and/or anyother suitable parasitic resistance.

Processing IC 412 may be communicatively coupled toresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402 and may comprise any suitablesystem, device, or apparatus configured to implement a measurementcircuit to measure phase information associated withresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402 and based on the phaseinformation, determine a displacement of mechanical member 105 relativeto resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402. Thus, processing IC 412may be configured to determine an occurrence of a physical interaction(e.g., press or release of a virtual button) associated with ahuman-machine interface associated with mechanical member 105 based onthe phase information. Further, processing IC 412 may further beconfigured to communicate one or more output signals to haptic system112 in order to trigger a haptic response to physical interactionassociated with the human-machine interface.

As shown in FIG. 4, processing IC 412 may include a phase detector 414,a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 416, a DSP 432, a loop filter 434,and a timer circuit 436. In some embodiments, phase detector 414 maycomprise a coherent in-phase/quadrature demodulator implemented with anin-phase channel and a quadrature channel as detailed in the ReferenceApplication. In operation, phase detector 414 may process sensor signalϕ to determine phase information associated withresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402. VCO 416 may generate anoscillation signal to be used as a basis for the signal that drivesresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402, as well as the oscillationsignals used by mixers of phase detector 414 to extract in-phase andquadrature components of amplified sensor signal ϕ. The oscillationfrequency of the oscillation signal generated by VCO 416 may be selectedbased on a resonant frequency of resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor402 (e.g., may be approximately equal to the resonant frequency ofresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402).

Loop filter 434 may comprise a low-pass filter configured to low-passfilter one or more output signals generated by phase detector 414, andsuch filtered output signal may be applied to VCO 416 to modify thefrequency of the oscillation signal generated by VCO 416, in order todrive sensor signal ϕ towards indicating a phase shift of zero. As aresult, sensor signal ϕ may comprise a transient decaying signal inresponse to a “press” of a virtual button associated with resonant phasesensing system 113 as well as another transient decaying signal inresponse to a subsequent “release” of the virtual button. Accordingly,loop filter 434 in connection with VCO 416 may implement a feedbackcontrol loop that may track changes in operating parameters of resonantphase sensing system 113 by modifying the driving frequency of VCO 416.

DSP 432 may include any system, device, or apparatus configured tointerpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data. Inparticular, DSP 432 may receive phase information from phase detector414 and/or loop filter 434, and based on such phase information,determine a displacement of mechanical member 105 relative toresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402, which may be indicative of anoccurrence of a physical interaction (e.g., press or release of avirtual button) associated with a human-machine interface associatedwith mechanical member 105 based on the phase information. DSP 432 mayalso generate one or more output signals (e.g., shown in FIG. 4 ascontrol signals GPIO, CONTROL DATA, and SENSOR DATA) indicative of thephase information and/or displacement.

In order to minimize power consumption associated with operatingresonance phase sensing system 113, resonance phase sensing system 113may include timer circuit 436. Timer circuit 436 may comprise anysuitable system, device, or apparatus configured to periodicallyactivate resonant phase sensing system 113, or individual components ofresonant phase sensing system 113, such that resonant phase sensingsystem 113 periodically detects the indication of human interaction. Inaddition, the various components of resonant phase sensing system 113(e.g., resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402, phase detector 414,VCO 416, loop filter 434, DSP 432) may be thought of as stages ofresonant phase sensing system 113, and timer circuit 436 may beconfigured to activate at least one stage of the plurality of stagesbased on one or more outputs of one or more stages of the plurality ofstages which precede the at least one stage. For example, if significantsignal change is detected from resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor402, timer circuit 436 may activate analog-to-digital converters ofphase detector 414 and loop filter 434. Then, DSP 432 may be activatedwhen resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor 402 has completed dataacquisition and the feedback loop of VCO 416 and loop filter 434 hassettled. Subsequently, haptic system 112 and linear resonant actuator107 may be activated responsive to DSP 432 determining that a humaninteraction with the human-machine interface of mobile device 102 hastaken place.

As shown in FIG. 4, haptic system 112 may include haptic waveformselector 422, a memory 424, and an amplifier 426.

Haptic waveform selector 422 may comprise any suitable system, device,or apparatus configured to receive one or more signals (e.g., shown inFIG. 4 as control signals GPIO, CONTROL DATA, and SENSOR DATA) fromresonant phase sensing system 113 and/or applications processor 420, andbased on such one or more signals, select a haptic playback waveformfrom memory 424 and communicate such haptic playback waveform toamplifier 426 for playback to linear resonant actuator 107. Hapticwaveform selector 422 may be implemented by a processor, controller,application-specific integrated circuit, field-programmable gate array,or any other suitable circuit.

Memory 424 may be communicatively coupled to haptic waveform selector422, and may include any system, device, or apparatus configured toretain program instructions and/or data for a period of time (e.g.,computer-readable media). Memory 424 may include random access memory(RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), aPersonal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card,flash memory, magnetic storage, opto-magnetic storage, or any suitableselection and/or array of volatile or non-volatile memory that retainsdata after power to mobile device 102 is turned off. Memory 424 maystore one or more haptic playback waveforms. In some embodiments, eachof the one or more haptic playback waveforms may define a hapticresponse as a desired acceleration of a linear resonant actuator (e.g.,linear resonant actuator 107) as a function of time.

Amplifier 426 may be electrically coupled to haptic waveform selector422 and may comprise any suitable electronic system, device, orapparatus configured to increase the power of an input signal V_(IN)(e.g., a time-varying voltage or current) to generate an output signalV_(OUT). For example, amplifier 426 may use electric power from a powersupply (not explicitly shown) to increase the amplitude of a signal.Amplifier 426 may include any suitable amplifier class, includingwithout limitation, a Class-D amplifier.

In operation, haptic waveform selector 422 may receive one or morecontrol signals from resonant phase sensing system 113 (or applicationsprocessor 420) indicative of human interaction with the human-machineinterface implemented by mechanical member 105 and linear resonantactuator 107. In response to the one or more control signals indicatinghuman interaction with the human-machine interface implemented bymechanical member 105 and linear resonant actuator 107, haptic waveformselector 422 may retrieve a haptic playback waveform from memory 424 andprocess such haptic playback waveform to determine a processed hapticplayback signal V_(IN). In some embodiments, haptic waveform selector422 may ignore the contents of memory 424 and a haptic playback waveformdirectly from applications processor 420). In embodiments in whichamplifier 426 is a Class D amplifier, processed haptic playback signalV_(IN) may comprise a pulse-width modulated signal. In response to theone or more control signals indicating human interaction with thehuman-machine interface implemented by mechanical member 105 and linearresonant actuator 107, haptic waveform selector 422 may cause processedhaptic playback signal V_(IN) to be output to amplifier 426, andamplifier 426 may amplify processed haptic playback signal V_(IN) togenerate a haptic output signal V_(OUT) for driving linear resonantactuator 107.

In some embodiments, haptic system 112 and resonance phase sensingsystem 113 may be formed on a single integrated circuit, thus enablinglower latency than existing approaches to haptic feedback control. Byproviding haptic system 112 and resonance phase sensing system 113 aspart of a single monolithic integrated circuit, latencies betweenvarious interfaces and system components of integrated haptic system 112and resonance phase sensing system 113 may be reduced or eliminated.

As shown in FIG. 4, haptic system 112 may be communicatively coupled toand may be configured to receive one or more control signals fromapplications processor 420. In some embodiments, applications processor420 may be implemented by controller 103. However, despite an ability ofapplications processor 420 to process signals from resonant phasesensing system 113 in order to generate control signals for hapticsystem 112, the ability to bypass applications processor 420 to allowhaptic system 112 to operate based on one or more control signals fromresonant phase sensing system 113 may reduce latency, reduce powerconsumption, and have other positive effects as compared to control ofhaptic system 113 by applications processor 420. For instance, byoffloading of control of haptic driver signals DSP 432, mobile device102 may be optimized for low-power and low-latency performance forgenerating haptic feedback response.

As another example, in an effort to minimize the power consumption ofmobile device 102 for always-on operation, haptic system 112 may beconfigured to monitor control signals from a resonant phase sensingsystem 113 for indicating a user input. However, once an initial userinput has been detected, the power and resources of applicationsprocessor 420 may be used to provide more detailed signal analysis andresponse. Thus, resonant phase sensing system 113 may be configured totrigger linear resonant actuator 107 to generate haptic feedbackresponsive to detecting an indication of human interaction whilebypassing one or more other processing elements (e.g., applicationsprocessor 420) of mobile device 102 that require additional processinglatency and/or power consumption in order to process the humaninteraction.

In some embodiments, resonant phase sensing system 113 may be configuredto determine a force of a sensed human interaction and/or a duration ofa sensed human interaction. Based on such sensed force and/or duration,resonant phase sensing system 113 and/or haptic system 112 may beconfigured to vary a pattern and/or an intensity of the tactile feedbackgenerated.

The foregoing contemplates providing haptic feedback to a user via alinear resonant actuator. However, the systems and methods disclosedherein may be applied to any suitable tactile actuator, includingwithout limitation a linear resonant actuator or any other vibrationalactuator.

As used herein, when two or more elements are referred to as “coupled”to one another, such term indicates that such two or more elements arein electronic communication or mechanical communication, as applicable,whether connected indirectly or directly, with or without interveningelements.

This disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations,alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that aperson having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Similarly,where appropriate, the appended claims encompass all changes,substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the exampleembodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art wouldcomprehend. Moreover, reference in the appended claims to an apparatusor system or a component of an apparatus or system being adapted to,arranged to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, oroperative to perform a particular function encompasses that apparatus,system, or component, whether or not it or that particular function isactivated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, orcomponent is so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled,operable, or operative. Accordingly, modifications, additions, oromissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods describedherein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example,the components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated orseparated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and apparatusesdisclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other componentsand the methods described may include more, fewer, or other steps.Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used inthis document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of asubset of a set.

Although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures anddescribed below, the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known ornot. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplaryimplementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and describedabove.

Unless otherwise specifically noted, articles depicted in the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the disclosureand the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, andare construed as being without limitation to such specifically recitedexamples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present disclosurehave been described in detail, it should be understood that variouschanges, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Although specific advantages have been enumerated above, variousembodiments may include some, none, or all of the enumerated advantages.Additionally, other technical advantages may become readily apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art after review of the foregoing figuresand description.

To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on thisapplication in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wishto note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claimelements to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the words “means for” or“step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a tactile actuator forproviding tactile feedback; and a resonant phase sensing systemcomprising: a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor; and a measurementcircuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitivesensor and the tactile actuator and configured to: measure phaseinformation associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor;based on the phase information, detect an indication of humaninteraction with the system proximate to theresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor; and trigger the tactile actuatorto generate tactile feedback responsive to detecting the indication ofhuman interaction.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a timercircuit configured to periodically activate the resonant phase sensingsystem to detect the indication of human interaction.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the resonant phase sensing system has a plurality ofstages, and wherein the timer circuit is configured to activate at leastone stage of the plurality of stages based on one or more outputs of oneor more stages of the plurality of stages which precede the at least onestage.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the resonant phase sensingsystem is configured to trigger the tactile actuator to generate tactilefeedback responsive to detecting the indication of human interactionwhile bypassing one or more other processing elements of the system thatrequire additional processing latency and/or power consumption in orderto process the human interaction.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein theone or more other processing elements comprise an applicationsprocessor.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the resonant phase sensingsystem further comprises a local digital signal processor to processdetection of the human interaction and trigger the tactile actuator togenerate the tactile feedback.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein thetactile actuator is configured to generate the tactile feedback withvarying patterns or intensities based on at least one of a force of thehuman interaction sensed and a duration of the human interaction sensed.8. A method comprising: measuring phase information associated aresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor; based on the phase information,detecting an indication of human interaction with theresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor; and triggering a tactile actuatorto generate tactile feedback responsive to detecting the indication ofhuman interaction.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprisingperiodically activating, with a timer circuit, a resonant phase sensingsystem comprising the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor to detectthe indication of human interaction.
 10. The method of claim 9, whereinthe resonant phase sensing system has a plurality of stages, and whereinthe method further comprises activating, with the timer circuit, atleast one stage of the plurality of stages based on one or more outputsof one or more stages of the plurality of stages which precede the atleast one stage.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein triggering comprisestriggering the tactile actuator to generate tactile feedback responsiveto detecting the indication of human interaction while bypassing one ormore other processing elements of the system that require additionalprocessing latency and/or power consumption in order to process thehuman interaction.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or moreother processing elements comprise an applications processor.
 13. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising processing, with a local digitalsignal processor of a resonant phase sensing system comprising theresistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, detection of the humaninteraction and trigger the tactile actuator to generate the tactilefeedback.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the tactile actuator isconfigured to generate the tactile feedback with varying patterns orintensities based on at least one of a force of the human interactionsensed and a duration of the human interaction sensed.